Lickimat: what the range is and who it suits
We don't publish a star-rating review system for individual brands, so rather than fake one here is the honest version: what Lickimat mats and bowls actually do, how they differ from each other, and which is worth choosing for a dog or cat that wolfs down food, gets bored, or needs calming down at bath and grooming time. The current range we stock is in the grid below.
What a Lickimat actually does
A Lickimat is a textured rubber mat or bowl designed to be smeared with something soft — wet food, plain yoghurt, mashed fruit or vegetable, a bit of peanut butter without xylitol — so an animal has to lick it out of the ridges rather than gulp it down. The licking itself is the point: it is slower than eating from a bowl, and the repetitive motion has a genuinely calming effect on a lot of dogs and cats.
That makes them useful for two quite different problems: a dog or cat that eats too fast and is prone to being sick or uncomfortable afterwards, and an animal that needs distracting or settling during something stressful, such as nail clipping, a bath, or being left alone for a short while.
Which one to choose
Flat mats suit sticking to a smooth surface like a bath wall or fridge door with suction cups, which is the classic use during grooming or a vet visit. Bowl-shaped versions sit on the floor like a normal feeding bowl and work better as an everyday slow-feeding replacement at mealtimes rather than a one-off distraction.
Texture and size vary across the range too — finer ridges suit cats and smaller dogs, while a coarser, larger mat holds more food and gives a big dog longer to work at it. If you are buying for a dog that demolishes a normal bowl in seconds, sizing up rather than down is usually the better call.
From this brand
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
LickiMat Classics Food Enrichment Lick Mat for Cats & Dogs
Rubber lick mats that slow feeding, encourage calm, and keep cats and dogs happily entertained — freezer and microwave safe.
£10.99
LickiMat Classic Buddy, Mint Dog Lick Mat
Criss-cross lick mat for spreadable food, 20 x 20cm, for bored or fast eaters
£6.99
LickiMat Classic Buddy, Coffee Dog Lick Mat
Criss-cross lick mat for spreadable food, 20 x 20cm, freezer and microwave safe
£6.99
LickiMat Slomo Slow Feeder Mat for Dogs
A textured rubber feeding mat that lets you serve wet and dry food together, slowing mealtimes and promoting calmer behaviour through licking.
£17.99
LickiMat Tuff Boredom Buster Feeding Mat — Buddy or Soother
An extra-durable lick mat for dogs and cats that can be frozen, microwaved, or run through the dishwasher — built to last longer than standard LickiMats.
From£14.99
LickiMat Wobble & Splash Enrichment Bowls for Dogs
Wobbling rubber enrichment bowls that add movement and challenge to treat time, encouraging slower eating and longer-lasting fun.
£16.99
Lickimat Tuff Soother Orange
LickiMat Tuff Soother textured feeding mat for spreading soft foods
£11.95
LickiMat Classic Soother, Lavender Dog Lick Mat
Brush-tip lick mat for wet and liquid food, slows fast eating, 20 x 20cm
£6.99
Common questions
- Are Lickimats worth it for a dog that eats too fast?
- For most dogs, yes — spreading food thinly across the ridges genuinely slows eating down compared with a normal bowl, which can help with the discomfort and occasional vomiting that fast eating causes. A slow-feeder bowl is a reasonable alternative if your dog does not take to the licking motion.
- What can you put on a Lickimat?
- Wet food, plain unsweetened yoghurt, mashed banana or pumpkin, and a smear of dog-safe peanut butter without xylitol are all common fillings. Avoid anything sugary, salty, or made for people rather than pets, and check any new filling is safe for your particular animal first.
- How do you clean a Lickimat?
- Most are dishwasher safe on the top rack, or can be washed by hand with warm soapy water and a brush to get into the ridges. Check the specific product description for the exact care instructions, since this can vary slightly between mats in the range.
- Do Lickimats work for cats as well as dogs?
- Yes, several in the range are sized and textured specifically for cats, with finer ridges suited to a smaller mouth. A cat-specific mat is generally a better starting point than a large dog mat, which can be too coarse or too big for a cat to engage with properly.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.